Phegopteris auriculata J. Smith, Hist. Fil. 4: 233. 1875; Cyclogramma himalayensis (C. Christensen) Tagawa; C. simulans (Ching) Tagawa; Cyclosorus auriculatus (J. Smith) C. M. Kuo; Dryopteris auriculata (J. Smith) Ching (1931), not (Linnaeus) Kuntze (1891); D. himalayensis C. Christensen; D. squamistipes (C. B. Clarke) C. Christensen; Glaphyropteris simulans (Ching) H. Itô; Lastrea himalayensis (C. Christensen) Copeland; L. simulans (Ching) Copeland; Polypodium appendiculatum Hoffmann var. squamistipes C. B. Clarke; P. auriculatum (J. Smith) Wallich ex Hooker (1863), not Linnaeus (1753); P. subvillosum T. Moore; Thelypteris auriculata (J. Smith) K. Iwatsuki; T. simulans Ching; T. squamistipes (C. B. Clarke) Ching; T. subvillosa (T. Moore) Ching.

Plants to more than 1 m tall. Rhizomes short and erect, black, with scales or glabrous when old. Fronds clustered; stipes strong, 10-20(-30) cm, bases black, with grayish white acicular hairs and scales; scales dark brown, oblong-triangular, both surfaces and margins setaceous, distally deep stramineous and to rachises with similar hairs; laminae oblong-lanceolate, (60-) 90-130 × 20-30 cm, gradually tapering to bases, pinnate-pinnatifid, acuminate and pinnatifid at apices; pinnae 30-50 pairs, opposite or distal ones sometimes alternate, spreading, sessile, proximal 3-5 pairs of pinnae gradually shortened, proximal ones auriculate, only ca. 1 cm; middle pinnae linear-lanceolate, 12-20 × 1.5-2.5 cm, bases not tapering, rounded-truncate, pinnatifid to 3/4-4/5 of distance to costae, apices acuminate; segments 20-30 pairs, oblong, 5-10 × 4-6.5 mm, margins entire and sparsely acicular hairy, apices rounded-obtuse. Veinlets visible, simple, 10-12 pairs per segment, proximal pair arising from bases of costules. Laminae herbaceous or subpapery, when dry brownish green, abaxially with dense hooked long hairs along costae and slightly pubescent along costules, elsewhere subglabrous, costae grooved adaxially and with dense long acicular hairs, with sparse appressed short hairs on intercostal areas, abaxial sides of rachises with hairy brown aerophores. Sori orbicular and dorsifixed below middle of veinlets and close to costules, 8-10 pairs per segment; sporangia each with 1 or 2 setae near top. 2n = 144.

Streamsides in evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1600-2800 m. E Taiwan, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal].